QARAGHANDY, Kazakhstan -- Police in Kazakhstan's central city of Qaraghandy have detained several Communist activists who tried to prevent the removal of a monument to Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin from the city center, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Dozens of activists representing the Communist Party of Kazakhstan and the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan gathered in front of the monument protesting the local authorities' decision to remove it. They carried placards saying "Hands off Lenin!" and "Do Not Delete History!"

Police dispersed the protesters and arrested several of them. Those detained were released after they provided a written statement explaining the reason for their protest.

The Lenin monument is expected to be moved from Qaraghandy's central square to a park in the city suburbs later today. The monument was erected at its current site in 1975.